Workshop

An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of CFT

Three day workshop with Dr Tobyn Bell and Dr Ashleigh McLellan

Three consecutive Monday sessions, November - December 2027
Online
3 days
£389

Card, Invoice & bank transfer available

About this workshop

This workshop will provide a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of CFT. Participants will learn how compassion can have an impact on our bodies, brains, minds and social relationships, and how we can bring this compassion into our therapeutic work. The CFT model draws on, and integrates, a number of different approaches and insights, such as including evolutionary approaches to the origins of our ‘tricky’ brain, with the nature of our complex of motives, and emotions and beliefs. This workshop will guide participants to in how to explore these processes including explore working with three basic emotion regulation systems that are focused on: i) dealing with stresses and threats; ii) guiding us to strive and pursue things we want or need and are sources of positive feelings and iii) settling threat and drive, and underpining social connectedness and feeling safe.

Participants will learn how compassion is viewed as a basic algorithm defined as sensitivity to suffering in self and others, with a commitment to alleviate and prevent it. They will explore how we can use the processes of engaging with suffering and the processes of taking action in therapeutic work. Workshop trainers will guide participants in understanding what is necessary to be able to develop empathic sensitivity, courage and wisdom to take effective actions to address the sources of mental and physical suffering. They will also guide participants through the basic elements and foundations of CFT and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), including how to use the body to support the mind, the use of compassionate imagery, how to practise compassionate behaviours and texture compassionate cognitive interventions. These can apply to the three flows of compassion (developing compassion for others, being open to the compassion from others and developing self-compassion), and how these dimensions of compassion can be met with fears, blocks and resistances, and how we can work with this. There will be a focus also on how we can use a compassion focused approach to work with the transdiagnostic problems of shame and self criticism.

For more information on content, click here.

What you'll learn

01

What is compassion and how it can inform psychotherapeutic practice

02

The theory and practice of CFT

03

CFT psychoeducation and how it is used in practice

04

Using CFT in transdiagnostic areas like shame and self criticism

Who this workshop is for

Psychologists

Psychotherapists

Mental health practitioners

Meet your instructor

Dr Tobyn Bell
Psychotherapist

Tobyn is a Compassion Focused Therapy Trainer, Supervisor and Psychotherapist, and is also part of the training committee for the Compassionate Mind Foundation. He is a co-author of Compassion Focused Therapy from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists, and has published widely on topics relating to compassion focused therapy. Tobyn regularly provides national and international training on compassion and chairwork and conducts research in these areas.  He is a co-founder of Chairwork which is an international hub for and provider of chairwork-related training and supervision. Tobyn also works as a lecturer and operational lead in the School of Health Science at the University of Manchester.

Tobyn has recently been interviewed for Psychology on Demand and It is Time, and appears on episodes of the podcasts Ask The Therapist and Welcome to Self

Read full bio
Dr Ashleigh McLellan
Clinical Psychologist

Ashleigh is a consultant clinical psychologist with 20 years’ experience in the NHS working with complex mental health presentations. She was the clinical lead for the Humber Traumatic Stress Service in Hull with a specialism in military trauma, refugees and asylum seekers and a range of cPTSD presentations.  She is involved in teaching on the Hull, Leeds and Sheffield ClinPsyD courses, and has supervised a number of Hull trainee clinical psychologists in CFT research. In 2020 Ashleigh started working exclusively in independent practice using the compassionate mind model with organisations and businesses, working with teams, individuals and delivering training. She is the director of her own company Ubuntu Psychology, where she continues her clinical work, and is a co-director of Indigo Talent Development where she is taking the CFT model into the corporate and business world. Ashleigh has also co-created Your Virtual Mental Trainer, which is offers a collection of 360° immersive nature videos synchronised with six-minute audio recordings.

Read full bio
Book your place
£389
Three consecutive Monday sessions, November - December 2027
Online
3 days
Reserve your spot
Secure online payment

Need to pay by invoice or bank transfer?
Contact us at finance@compassionatemind.co.uk

Recommended Material

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FAQs

Find answers to common questions about this workshop.

Can I attend the Clinical Skills without having completed an Introduction to CFT?

This workshop is aimed at those who have a good grounding in the foundations of Compassion Focused Therapy, so we do require that you have completed an Introductory workshop beforehand (please check the topics covered in the Introduction to CFT workshop on our Training Pathway). We generally recommend leaving at least six months between completing an Introductory workshop and attending the Clinical Skills workshop in order to give yourself time to practise with your clients, as this workshop will be aimed to helping you to build on your skills.

Introductory workshops held by other organisations will be accepted, so long as they are at least two days in length, include the topics covered in our Introduction to CFT course, and are led by a recognised CFT trainer. For any queries about this, please email hello@compassionatemind.co.uk

Can I attend this course without having completed an Introductory workshop?

Yes, this course is suitable for those who are new to CFT, although some knowledge of the basics may be helpful.

Can I attend this intermediate course if I've not previously attended an Introductory workshop?

Unfortunately, this workshop will not be suitable for those with no prior CFT training. The trainer will be teaching the workshop on the assumption that all attendees have a good understanding of the model and will not have time to go over this. We recommend first attending one of our Introduction to CFT workshops, which we run several times a year.

Can I watch the recordings in my own time?

We understand that, due to time differences, it may not be possible for you to attend all of this training live with us. With that in mind, the workshop will be recorded, and you'll have access to the recordings for up to three months after the live broadcast to watch in your own time.

If you're unable to attend for the entire duration, please email hello@compassionatemind.co.uk to let us know, as non-attendees will not receive a certificate unless we are informed of your circumstances.

Do I need any prior knowledge of CFT?

This workshop does cover some of the basics of the CFT model so this has been advertised as a beginner level workshop, however we do recommend some prior training or experience of CFT as the trainers will not have time to address this in depth.

Do I need to be a therapist to attend this personal practice workshop?

No, this is for personal practice, and is open to all.

I can't attend live, can I watch the recordings after the live broadcast instead?

Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, and particularly that it will contain a lot of group work, we feel you'd be missing too much of its value if you cannot participate live. So all delegates will need to attend live. Any delegates that have signed up but don't attend will not receive a CPD certificate.

Please get in touch at hello@compassionatemind.co.uk if you can now longer attend this workshop and need to change your booking.

I might have to miss a session due to prior commitments. Can I catch up later?

Yes, this absolutley fine. The workshop will be recorded, and you'll be able to catch up on anything you've missed for up to a month after the live broadcast.

Still have questions?

Email us anytime

An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of CFT

join waitlist
Level
Beginner
Price
£389
Dates
November 29, 2027
December 13, 2027
An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of CFT

This workshop will provide a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of CFT. Participants will learn how compassion can have an impact on our bodies, brains, minds and social relationships, and how we can bring this compassion into our therapeutic work. The CFT model draws on, and integrates, a number of different approaches and insights, such as including evolutionary approaches to the origins of our ‘tricky’ brain, with the nature of our complex of motives, and emotions and beliefs. This workshop will guide participants to in how to explore these processes including explore working with three basic emotion regulation systems that are focused on: i) dealing with stresses and threats; ii) guiding us to strive and pursue things we want or need and are sources of positive feelings and iii) settling threat and drive, and underpining social connectedness and feeling safe.

Participants will learn how compassion is viewed as a basic algorithm defined as sensitivity to suffering in self and others, with a commitment to alleviate and prevent it. They will explore how we can use the processes of engaging with suffering and the processes of taking action in therapeutic work. Workshop trainers will guide participants in understanding what is necessary to be able to develop empathic sensitivity, courage and wisdom to take effective actions to address the sources of mental and physical suffering. They will also guide participants through the basic elements and foundations of CFT and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT), including how to use the body to support the mind, the use of compassionate imagery, how to practise compassionate behaviours and texture compassionate cognitive interventions. These can apply to the three flows of compassion (developing compassion for others, being open to the compassion from others and developing self-compassion), and how these dimensions of compassion can be met with fears, blocks and resistances, and how we can work with this. There will be a focus also on how we can use a compassion focused approach to work with the transdiagnostic problems of shame and self criticism.

For more information on content, click here.

This course is for

No items found.

Meet your instructor(s)

Dr Tobyn Bell

Dr Tobyn Bell

Psychotherapist
Dr Ashleigh McLellan

Dr Ashleigh McLellan

Clinical Psychologist

FAQs

Will I get a certificate of attendance?

All attendees will received a certificate upon completion of the course. This will be emailed to you, so please ensure that your details are correct on registration.

Our staff will take a register on each day of the workshop and any non-attendees will not receive a certificate. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please get in touch at hello@compassionatemind.co.uk

My employer will be paying for this course. Can you arrange for an invoice?

Yes, towards the bottom of the page under the 'prices' section you will find a link to download a booking form for this workshop. Please fill this in and email to finance@compassionatemind.co.uk

When will I receive the login details?

All delegates signed up to the workshop will recieve joining links and instructions when they sign up for the event via Eventbrite. Any additional handouts will be sent to you as soon as they are recieved from the speaker. If you do not recieve a welcome email when you book, or have other queries, please email hello@compassionatemind.co.uk.

Terms and conditions


All places booked for our event, must be paid for prior to attending the event unless pre-agreed with management. Please note that we cannot confirm your place until we have received payment.

Should you be unable to attend the event, please contact our admin team as soon as possible via hello@compassionatemind.co.uk. Refunds, less the Eventbrite administration fee, will be made if cancellations are received in writing up to one month before the event. Any cancellations received after this time will not be eligible for a refund, although we will consider exceptional circumstances.  While refunds for failure to attend cannot be made, you can transfer your event fee to a future event that will take place within 12 months of your booking without an additional penalty.

Please note that information about the event and venue are subject to change and cancellation. Occasionally, an event may have to be cancelled or postponed.  We will endeavour to inform you of any changes and cancellations as soon as possible via email. We cannot take responsibility for any resulting costs you may incur for travel, accommodation, any other related goods or service or other compensation should an event cancellation occur.

For all face-to-face events, lunch provided at the event will be vegetarian and will include eggs, but no meat or fish (though vegan options will also be made available). However, please advise us of any dietary requirements in the notes section whilst booking online and we will do our best to accommodate your request.